Former Kansas University basketball forward Julian Wright has selected an agent.

He is Rob Pelinka, a 37-year-old former University of Michigan guard who is most well known for negotiating Kobe Bryant’s $137 million contract back in 2004.

KU coach Bill Self confirmed Friday that Wright, a 6-foot-8 Chicago sophomore, had tapped Pelinka and would sign with him next week.

Pelinka, who hails from the Chicago area, also has negotiated contracts for Corey Maggette, Channing Frye and one-time KU signee DeShawn Stevenson. In this year’s draft he already has signed Arizona sophomore Marcus Williams.

¢ Jones’ squad falls: KU recruit Verdell Jones, a 6-foot-4, 160-pound junior out of Central High in Champaign, Ill., scored 11 points in Ft. Sooy No Limit’s 63-52 loss to Howard Pulley Panthers on Friday night in the Jayhawk Invitational at Allen Fieldhouse.

Jones, who also has Kentucky, Illinois and others on his list of prospective colleges, said he has made trips to Lawrence “about five, six times.

“It’s an honor to play here,” said Jones, who has not yet received a scholarship offer from the Jayhawks. “There’s so much legacy in here. You look on the walls and see Wilt Chamberlain, (Raef) LaFrentz, all these big-time guys. It’s an honor to play on the same court with them.

“Kansas is definitely on my list,” noted Jones, who said he wants to take an official visit in the fall to “get to know the campus a bit. I love the coaching staff. I love the way they play. I love where they play, Phog Allen. I love KU.”

Jones showed a soft shooting touch Friday and good court vision and was willing to hit the deck for loose balls several times. He realizes he has a long way to go physically.

“I am in the weight room three days a week. I eat four, five meals a day trying to put weight on to get thicker and stronger,” said Jones, who has been compared to former Kentucky player Tayshaun Prince. “My mom feeds me everything, pork chops, chicken, protein shakes. It’s real hard to gain.”

Jones’ team will play at 9:15 a.m. today at Horejsi Center, 2:15 p.m. at Allen Fieldhouse and 7:15 p.m. at Horejsi Center.

¢ Jayhawks watch: Several KU players attended Friday’s action, including Darrell Arthur, Brennan Bechard, Darnell Jackson, Brady Morningstar and Brandon Rush. There were about 500 fans in the fieldhouse stands for four games Friday night.